What counts as brigading and is there an inner circle here?

[David_J]

I’ve noticed a few regulars in our community are starting to form a tight-knit group that seems to privately coordinate their votes and comments. It feels like they’re creating an inner circle that sidelines newer members, but I’m not sure if this crosses the line into actual brigading or if it’s just an organic clique.

[ZacharyM]

I’ve noticed that pattern too. A few regulars seem to coordinate the timing and tone of comments, and newer folks get less traction in discussions.

[Jerry_R]

I tried to track it for a bit: same names show up together, thumbs-up and echo each other, and the thread often veers in the same direction. I started tagging posts differently and inviting newbies to chime in, but I didn’t see much change.

[SavannahM]

Do you think this is the real problem or are there bigger dynamics at play here?

[NoahNG]

I talked to a mod in a private chat and they said they’d keep an eye on patterns and encourage more open threads. Nothing strict, just reminders to mix voices.

[Scarlett.A]

Sometimes I just back off from threads where it feels like a chorus is steering the conversation. It’s exhausting and makes me doubt my own takes.

[AuroraWG]

I even left a comment asking for more diverse voices, but the same handful replied quickly, and others stayed quiet. It’s not a clean answer and I’m not sure what else to do.